Highlighting Feather family volunteer Angie Fries

Fresno Christian hosts a plethora of interesting people that have taken active roles in the community. The Feather Online will write about a few of these involved individuals that have touched the hearts of the students and faculty alike.

Angie Fries, more commonly known as “Grandma Angie”, has been deeply involved with the FC community and with The Feather staff. Fries is the grandmother of Callista and Tynin Fries who have both been core members of the staff in earlier years. Grandma Angie frequently visits the journalism lab, talks with the senior staff members, and regularly accompanies The Feather team on the annual trip to New York as a chauffeur. Without Angie as a chaperone the staff would not have been able to attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association conferences at Columbia University.

As she comes to pick up her last granddaughter on campus, Kennedy Fries, Angie typically strides out in the courtyard or pops into building six to visit with the high school seniors. Fries is always ready to entertain students by sharing a joke, a witty observation, or wisdom she gleaned through life. She acts as another grandparent for the students that know her and as a grandparent for The Feather Online. Grandma Angie stands as proof that not all family shares blood.

Though Callista and Tynin have since left The Feather, Angie still visits and aids the current staff when she can. Joshua Carter, senior editor, states that Angie is like family to the journalism crew.

“Well she didn’t earn the nick name ‘Grandma Angie’ for nothing,” Carter said. “I really got to know Grandma Angie when she came to New York with us last year, she was way more open while out on the street with the staff. She’s a lot like a grandma for the senior staff actually and we bonded a lot last year. She talks with us, laughs at our jokes, and sometimes she brings us food if we ask for it.”

Being forward and outgoing, Fries leaves strong impressions even on strangers. Kevin Garcha, ’16, thinks that Fries portrays a fun and lively attitude.

“I don’t personally know Grandma Angie very well,” Garcha said. “I’ve met her a couple times and she just a has a very fun light-hearted way about her. It’s hard to explain, but I can just tell from meeting her and hearing things about her that she’s a lot of fun to be around. I really wish she could have come this year for New York because then I could have bonded with her the way the other seniors got to last year. ”

Morgan Miller, ’16, has not met Fries, but frequently overhears journalism students talk about her.

“I haven’t met Grandma Angie (Fries) personally so there isn’t much I can say about her,” Miller said. “I have heard that name a lot around campus though, I think I’ve seen her out in the courtyard once before. I know that The Feather kids really like her because she sometimes brings them food and talks with them.”

Fries has contributed numerous hours both with The Feather staff and with the new school administration. Though she plans to depart for Oregon at the end of the year, Fries believes that the school will be left in capable hands.

“The new school administration has been really great, much better then some of the previous administrations,” Fries said. “I’m moving to Oregon with my granddaughter Kennedy so I won’t be around to see how things go, but the new administration has been very good to me and I think I can leave the school knowing it’s going to be taken care of people that have faith in it.”

Though Grandma Angie plans to leave sunny California for Southern Oregon in the coming year, her influence within the halls of the school can most certainly be felt. The Feather staff, with whom holds deep respect and adoration for their adoptive grandmother, impart our deepest wishes for her success in Oregon.

For more features, please read Wilson Theater commemorates 90th anniversary, celebration.

This author can be reached via twitter: @RRoggenstein or email: [email protected].